Page 69 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

Is this really happening now?

This wasn’t a part of our plan...

“I have chosen a mate amongst us,” Cyrus goes on. “Cassandra Chikara will be this pack’s Luna, and our mating ceremony will take place.

I shake my head slowly, eyes widening as shock renders me speechless.

He’s really doing this now, outstretching his arm and waving me over.

“Go on, Cassie,” Dakota encourages, snapping me from my momentary shock and compelling me to join Cyrus on the stage. A small part of me thought that the only reason he declared his love through the mind link was to encourage me to stand up to Emily.

This is so much more I realize as I make my way toward him, reaching out and slipping my hand into his. Our surroundings fade, his face the only thing in focus now as I gaze at him with wonder-filled eyes.

He didn’t tell me about this because he wanted to surprise me. I see it in the playful glint that flashes across his eyes, his mischievous grin as he pulls me toward him and crushes his lips to mine.

If he’s trying to make up for all the misgivings in the past, he’s been outdoing himself, I’ll give him that much. My heart swells with joy, but the feeling isn’t strong enough to go further than my chest.

Why does a knot suddenly twist in the pit of my belly when he pulls away?

We’d just given the Moon Shine Pack a show to remember, but a nagging sense of unrest crawls along my spine and has me staring at the Alpha, waiting for some imaginary ball to drop.

Something isn’t right.

***

I stare disbelievingly at the two red lines on the screen, pressing a hand to my temple as I shake my head.

I can’t believe I spent the rest of the night unable to put a single morsel of food in my mouth.

Especially now that I need food in my system. Not just for me but for the pup that grows inside my belly. Instinctively cupping a hand below my belly button, I chuckle nervously and apologize.

“Sorry for depriving you, little one,” I pout, lifting my eyes to my reflection as if the window to my soul can act as a pathway to the baby’s ears. “I didn’t even know you existed until now.”

Openly speaking to the pu,p who is probably a little over three weeks old, I feel as if it’s the most natural thing to do. After Cyrus’s announcement at the meeting earlier tonight, I’d been gripped with a sense of uneasiness.

Dizziness that had me rushing back to the main house to throw up despite not being able to stomach the beef stew his mother cooked for the pack.

I thought something was wrong, a moment of weakness when I thought my faith in Cyrus was slipping again. The only thing that was wrong with me was that I’d neglected to keep track of my cycle, only realizing that I’d skipped my menses when I was done barfing my guts over the toilet pan.

That’s when I rushed to the hospital to pick up a pregnancy testing kit, rushing back before Cyrus left the den, eager to take the test.

Clutching the positive test in one hand as if my life depended on it, I make my way to the bedroom to wait for Cyrus.

Ever since he professed his desire to take me as his mate, he’s made it abundantly clear that he wants to have pups.

More than one, even if Moon Shine Pack’s lore insists that the Alpha will only have one son.

This is a start, and I can’t wait to tell him that I’m expecting. I take a seat on the bed, waiting for him to return from the pack den.

“You’re here,” Cyrus breathes in relief when he enters the bedroom, breath coming in hot pants as if he’d been in a hurry. When he meets my eyes, he crosses the room with firm steps of determination, sinking to his knees and pressing his cheek on my lap. His breathing steadies audibly when he sighs. “Why did you leave so soon?” he asks.

“I—” hesitantly glancing at the pillow under which I’ve hidden the test, I search for an excuse. “I wasn’t feeling too good.”

“Fuck…” Cyrus lifts his head, apology flashing across his eyes as he pouts. “There’s been a change of plans,” he says reluctantly. “I just received communication from Alpha Simon. The Council is planning on moving in tonight.”

“Tonight?” I pout despondently. I was hoping I’d share the news with him tonight before he left. But right now, the way his shoulders tense signals that he isn’t in the right frame of mind to drop such big news on him.

He nods timidly. “But if you’re not feeling well, I won’t go.”

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